Christmas Party Pictures

Both my dad and I took these pictures. There's so many of Beka- she's just too cute!! :)

I convinced Matthew to go back to Henry's Lake this morning for a try at ice fishing.  We improvised ice fishing poles out of the top half of a couple of poles, pieces of plastic pipe, and hose clamps to hold the reels.  We found some old jigs and power bait in a tackle box.  We used our ax to knock ice out of yesterday's holes.  We took turns watching the jig through the hole in the ice to know when a fish would take it.  Matt watched the 14" brookie he's holding hit the jig.  I watched the 16" cutthroat hit it.  Watching the trout circle and attack was like watching sharks attack on TV.  So much fun!  Now we need a recipe to cook them...

Here is Jacob with a wish for Grandpa and Grandma. 

He is doing well, serving right now in an English speaking area.  He has a new companion just straight from the MTC.  He thinks he will go back Spanish speaking on the next transfer.   He told us on Christmas that his release date will be July 25. 

Here is a picture of Emily going to the Christmas dance.  We made this dress in about 1 week or less.  She finished her application to BYU and she is hoping to join Jacob in Provo in the Fall.  She is just starting debate for the season and is taking AP Government and calculus this trimester so she is very busy.  She also has one piano student.

Here is a video of David in their syllabus ballroom competition.  They ended up placing 4th and have potential to be better with a little bit of work.  He is having fun with ballroom and they just finished up the marching band season which he really enjoyed. 

Here is a picture of Matt playing football.  He is on the end.  He had some good tackles this year and also got to run the ball a few times.  He is looking forward to baseball season.  He got catching gear for Christmas including catcher's glove. 

Evan got the best gift for Christmas.  A new guitar.  He has been playing with it ever since (except for a day trip to go ice fishing at Henry's lake).  Everyone else seems to be interested in learning to play as well. 

Merry Christmas!

Eric's post reminded me that I promised to post Ashley and Alli's recital pieces for you.  They are posted below.  I also thought you might enjoy to hear the piece that their teacher (Dale Jessee) played.  I really enjoy to hear him play.  My camera was acting up, and it quit twice on me during that recording, but I thought I'd share what I have.

Merry Christmas!  We love you!

Ryan

Happy 70th Birthday mom! Here's to 70 more :)

I rarely post, so you know if I'm posting to the blog, it must be something quite special! I just wanted to share a few photos and say that I love you and that our family loves you very much. We are so glad that we are part of your posterity.

It's amazing how time flies when you're having fun. It wasn't all that long ago when you and dad got married or Evan, Ryan, Kristi, Emily and me were all wee tots. Now our wee tots are not so wee (except for Rebecca who's becoming less wee by the day).

So, keep being you. Keep serving in the temple, keep learning Russian, and keep sharing your love (with the people in Ukraine and with all you influence).

Happy 70th!

Love,
Eric, Cindy, Racquel, Ben, and Emma

P.S. I didn't have other good pictures handy so I'll have to post some more later. This was from Emma's recital on Friday night.

Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas!

Dear Mom,

Happy Birthday!  Sorry we can’t be there with you to celebrate your 70^th birthday, but I am happy that you are doing what you love to do for your birthday.  Please know we love you and support you and are so thankful for your example and your efforts.  You are a terrific Mom.  Thank you for loving me and for giving me a firm foundation upon which to build.  Your attitude of selfless service and giving has been a great example for me.  Your desire to be obedient has helped instill that desire in me.  I am slow to learn, but am thankful for the guiding light that you have given to me.

I was obedient to your edict to not send you gifts this year, but I wanted to do something.  So I put together a few slideshows of some of your posterity for your viewing pleasure.  I hope you enjoy them.  This will have to work for both your birthday and your Christmas present from us this year.  We hope you enjoy the holidays.  I know I really loved my opportunities to spend Christmas in the full-time service of the Savior.  What better way to celebrate?

Happy Birthday Mom, and Merry Christmas to both of you!

Love,

Ryan

ASHLEY

ALLI

ZACHARY

ANNA

Winter Comes to Ukraine

Snow finally came to Kiev the first of December.  The workers at the temple block were so excited to get out their snow equipment! 
On the very first passes, they raced up and down the sidewalks with the rotary broom just throwing snow.








As the snow got deeper, they settled into
the process of removing the snow from the
sidewalks, parking lots, etc.  As we have progressed from fall to winter, temperatures
have consistently fallen to just below 30 degrees.
Those who have been here previous winters tell us we may not see bare ground again until Spring.  (That's okay.  It is beautiful!)

 

Now that we have reached the shortest days of the year, the sun doesn't come up until after  8:00 a.m. and has set before 4:00 p.m.   That means we never see it set, as we start our shift at the temple at 3:00 p.m. and don't come home until around 9:00 p.m.  Winter light conditions make it possible to get some very interesting pictures of the temple.  Sister Black took this one at first light (about 8 a.m.).

We spent an early Saturday morning (shortly before the snow came) involved

with our branch and a couple of other units, cleaning up leaves at Babi Yar.

We told you a little about Babi Yar in a previous post.  About 50-75 people showed up and put on "Helping Hands" vests.  In just a couple of hours we had raked huge piles of leaves.  It was fun to see temple workers and patrons from the Kiev Stake who showed up to help.  The Kiev Mission president and some of his family also joined us.

President and Sister Galbraith (on the right) came.  Elder and Sister Black are on the left.  We had a great time!  I also want to tell a little about the temple missionary couples serving here with us.  We'll continue some more in a future post so you can see all of them.  President and Sister Galbraith will have served in either Russia or Ukraine for almost 8 years.  It will be 8 by the time they go home next November.  They are both spiritual and do a great job of furthering the temple work in this part of the world.  Kay and Dan Black are from Sugar City, Idaho.  They have been neighbors of the Galbraiths for many years and were the ones responsible--to a certain extent--in our being asked to come here.  They have been our guides in most everything and have made our adjustment very smooth.  Kay and your mom were best friends through high school, so it has been fun to catch up on things after so many years!

The Metro (subway) here is something else.  The escalators are very, very long.  As you may be able to tell by the lights below as they stretch out of sight in the distance. This is my attempt to give you a feel for it.  Pres. and Sister Ball are first counselor and assistant matron and are from Idaho Falls.  They were also with us at Babi Yar.
She is the sweets' fairy who is always leaving wonderful cinnamon rolls, brownies, or rolls by the doors of all the couples.  Pres. Ball is a mover and accomplishes whatever needs to get done.  He's a wonderful leader.  I knew him briefly at the University of Idaho many years ago.  They were both pilots and Pres. Ball can tell some hair-raising stories about landing on dirt air strips in the primitive areas of Idaho.

We are excited to be serving in the temple during the Christmas season.  We are having such an incredible experience here.  We love the people who come and they love us back.  We know that we are all in the Lord's House and we feel the spirit so strongly.  God lives and loves us and knows our needs.  Even though the temple has only been here for 2 years, the local temple workers are very competent and dedicated to making each visit a memorable experience for everyone who comes.  We look forward to celebrating the Savior's birth and rejoice in His atonement and resurrection.  May we all follow His commandments.

Love, Mom & Dad (Grandma & Grandpa)  .